Current Affairs

Make in India, launched on 25 September 2014, completed 12 years, aiming to position India as a global hub for manufacturing, design and innovation. Make in India 2.0 covers 27 sectors. As of June 2026, 14 PLI schemes attracted ₹2.40 lakh crore investment and created over 14 lakh jobs. Manufacturing share in GVA rose from 14.6% (2022-23) to 15.6% (2025-26); non-petroleum exports reached $388.3 billion, but global share stayed ~1.7%. Key allocations: Semicon 2.0 ₹1,27,500 crore; BHAVYA ₹33,660 crore; rare-earth magnets ₹7,280 crore.

Opposition plans removal motions against CEC Gyanesh Kumar after reports of internal dissent by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on ECI decisions/SIR processes. ECI has three commissioners. Appointments under Article 324 and the 2023 Act are by President on a committee (PM, LoP, Cabinet Minister); tenure 6 years/65. CEC removal (Article 324(5)/Section 11(2)) mirrors SC judge: proved misbehaviour / incapacity; notice needs 100 LS/50 RS signatures; presiding officer may admit / reject, then inquiry; requires two‑thirds present and voting in both Houses; President must order removal. No CEC impeached; March 2026 motions (130 LS, 63 RS) were rejected in April 2026 without reasons.

Sagarmala Finance Corporation Ltd. (SMFCL), financing arm linked to the Sagarmala programme under PM GatiShakti, plans India’s first blue bond issue to raise up to ₹1,000 crore; SEBI recognises blue bonds as sustainable finance instruments. Blue bonds raise investor funds with interest and principal repayment, but proceeds must be earmarked for identified water- and ocean-related projects. Issuers need a disclosure framework, impact measurement and periodic reporting to prevent “bluewashing”; funds are limited to Sagarmala projects with measurable sustainability outcomes.

Ministry of Rural Development will start DDU-GKY 2.0 training batches across most States/UTs from October 2026; upgraded guidelines were notified in May 2025. A Centrally Sponsored Scheme (launched 25 September 2014) under NRLM, it provides placement-linked skill training to poor rural youth (15-35), with mandatory coverage: SC/ST 50%, women 33%, PwD 5%. Sectors are industry-driven. Roshni covers MHA-notified LWE districts (residential; 40% women; extended to Aspirational Districts). Himayat applies to J&K and Ladakh (100% central funding; BPL/APL; wage/self/gig; MMUs). Allocation earmarks 10% for NE; hard areas get Special Area Allowance plus 10% extra base training cost.

DRDO signed its first high-value deep-tech project agreement with a start-up under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) for indigenous development of a dilution refrigerator. TDF (Make in India) promotes defence self-reliance; governed by the Ministry of Defence and executed by DRDO; maximum development period 4 years; project cost considered up to ₹50 crore with funding up to 90%. Eligible India-registered public/private company, partnership, LLP, OPC or proprietorship must be owned/controlled by resident Indians; foreign investment >49% ineligible. Start-ups must be DPIIT-recognised, with at least 51% resident shareholding; nascent (<3 years) start-ups need govt-assisted incubation and must not have similar-technology grants.

INS Trishul reached Toulon, France, to participate in VARUNA 2025, the 24th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy, with engagements in harbour and at sea, including cross-deck visits and operational interactions. INS Trishul is a 3,700-tonne Talwar-class guided missile frigate (in service since 2003), capable of 30+ knots and 30-day endurance, armed with KBSM 3S-14NE VLS and BrahMos PJ-10 AShCM.

Rotterdam Convention’s Chemical Review Committee (CRC) adopted a Decision Guidance Document (DGD) on methyl parathion at its 22nd meeting in Rome (Italy), forwarding it to the Conference of the Parties (COP). If approved, it will be subject to the legally binding Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure. Convention adopted 10 September 1998, in force 24 February 2004; promotes shared responsibility in hazardous chemical/pesticide trade; PIC enables information exchange and informed import decisions, not universal bans. Brazil bans it; EU disallows sale/use; exposure may cause severe neuro-respiratory toxicity, coma/death, and reproductive/mutagenic effects.

At the 2nd FIPIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York (alongside the 81st UNGA), India proposed customised capacity-building for Pacific Island Countries. Initiatives include a 100-bed hospital in Fiji; hemodialysis machines to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Palau, Nauru, Kiribati and Marshall Islands; 20 sea ambulances by March 2027; Fiji limb camp (~650); Indian Pharmacopoeia recognised by Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands; IT Centres in 8 PICs; solarisation of 2,800 households in 14 PICs; 70 women trained; proposed space centre (PNG) and ocean institute (University of the South Pacific); 20 India-UN Fund projects (3 ongoing); QIPs proposals from 7 states; cooperation via ISA/CDRI; support for the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

India rejected unwarranted and factually incorrect references to India in a Joint Communiqué of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, issued under the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) framework. OIC, the second largest organisation after the UN, has 57 member states across four continents. Established in 1969 at Rabat, Morocco, it promotes Muslim-world interests, peace and harmony; membership is for Muslim-majority UN members.

India rejected unwarranted and factually incorrect references to India in a Joint Communiqué of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, issued under the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) framework. OIC, the second largest organisation after the UN, has 57 member states across four continents. Established in 1969 at Rabat, Morocco, it promotes Muslim-world interests, peace and harmony; membership is for Muslim-majority UN members.

OECD raised India’s growth forecast for 2026-27 to 7.1% from 6.3%. OECD, successor to OEEC, was established by a convention signed on 14 December 1960 and effective from 30 September 1961; signed by 18 European countries, the US and Canada. It has 38 members, headquarters in Paris, and works via Council, Secretariat and committees without enforcement powers. India is an OECD Key Partner since 2007.

In petitions challenging the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, a two-judge Supreme Court Bench (Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma) gave a split verdict and directed listing before the CJI to constitute an appropriate Bench, possibly a 5-judge Constitution Bench. Citing Article 324 and Anoop Baranwal (March 2023), the challenge concerns replacing the CJI on the selection panel with a PM-nominated Union Minister, creating two government representatives; both judges flagged delays in Constitution Bench matters.

The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (2026) issued an advisory to restrict unproven stem cell interventions, including for Autism Spectrum Disorder, clarifying it is not approved as routine care and permitted only in approved clinical trials under National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017 (ICMR-DBT). Pursuant to Supreme Court judgment in Yash Charitable Trust v Union of India, violations may invite IMC Regulations, 2002 (Reg. 7.22) action and penalties under Clinical Establishments Act, 2010 (Sections 32, 40); State Medical Councils to investigate and discipline.

RBI’s special USD-INR forex swap facility has attracted over $143.5 billion of forex inflows till September 18, 2026. It covers FCNR(B) deposits, External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) and Overseas Foreign Currency Borrowings (OFCBs) to boost dollar inflows, support the rupee and strengthen the external sector. Inflows comprise $132.98 billion FCNR(B), $5.32 billion OFCBs and $5.29 billion ECBs, providing banks stable medium-term foreign currency funding amid elevated credit-deposit ratios.

The External Affairs Minister said the Global South remains marginalised in global decision-making despite facing major crises. The Global South broadly includes developing, emerging and underdeveloped nations across Latin America, Africa, Asia and Oceania, sharing histories of colonisation, exploitation and structural marginalisation. Coined by Carl Oglesby (late 1960s) and popularised by the Brandt Line, concerns include food-energy insecurity, climate finance/technology gaps and trade barriers. India engages via VOGSS and ISA, seeking UN-IMF-World Bank reforms and South-South cooperation.

RBI, with NPCI, launched UPI ‘tap and pay’ for RuPay credit cards, enabling faster payments without OTPs or QR codes. Using PoS terminal internet connectivity, transactions can occur even if the customer’s phone lacks internet. Currently available up to ₹5,000; above this, PIN is required. UPI forms ~85% of India’s electronic transactions. Move aligns with fraud reduction and data security amid rising AI-based attacks; Visa/Mastercard use passkeys, and Mastercard’s CDCVM enables biometric authentication. Amazon Pay (<1% UPI share) introduced tap-and-pay for partner merchants.

WHO urged stronger, coordinated ethical oversight of AI-related health research, citing concerns on pace, privacy, bias, fairness/equity, transparency, accountability, transferability and rapid deployment. RECs protect participants but need technical expertise, training and resources; some anonymised/no-direct-interaction AI studies may escape review. WHO recommends training/certification, early risk identification, transparency, data-worker safeguards, public communication/engagement, and capacity-building in developing countries with equitable local participation. India has an AI-healthcare ethical framework; ICMR (2023) issued AI ethics guidelines stressing autonomy, safety, data privacy, accountability, fairness, equity and informed consent.

Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’ (23 September 1908, Bihar–24 April 1974), a Hindi literary figure linked to the freedom struggle, is remembered on his birth anniversary. Known as Rashtrakavi and Yuga-Chāraṇa, his collection Hunkar (1938) stirred nationalist fervour. He received the Padma Bhushan and Sahitya Akademi Award (1959). Rashmirathi critiqued caste hierarchies; Sanskriti Ke Chaar Adhyay criticised communalism. Major works include Kurukshetra, Urvashi and Renuka.

Exercise Veer Guardian 2026, a bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF), concluded at Air Force Station Jodhpur on 22 September 2026 after 14 days. IAF deployed Su-30 MKI, Rafale and indigenous LCA Tejas; JASDF fielded F-2A. Training included within-visual-range combat, coordinated multi-aircraft missions, and SME exchanges, maintenance practice and aerospace safety briefings. On Distinguished Visitor’s Day, Gen Takehiro Morita and Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew Tejas.

A report tabled at the UN General Assembly flags risks from agentic AI—systems accomplishing specific goals with limited supervision—unlike traditional rule-based software. It notes advantages (autonomy, specialisation, proactivity, adaptability) and applications (live stock trading, autonomous vehicle GPS navigation, adaptive treatment from patient data). Key issues include misalignment (e.g., hacking), loss of human control, and self-reinforcing over-censorship. Way forward: cross-jurisdiction accountability, incident reporting/whistleblowing, and independent AI monitoring.

UN has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmers to highlight women’s role in agriculture and rural economies. Rural FLPR rose from 41.5% (2022-23) to 47.6% (2023-24). Rural women in agriculture: 33% labourers, 48–50% self-employed; hold 12.8–14% operational land. Women are 23–25% of PM-KISAN beneficiaries and get <20% extension services; databases rely on land titles. Best practices: Maharashtra Women Farmers’ Empowerment Bill (Woman Farmer Certificate), Kerala’s Kudumbashree collective farming, Odisha’s KALIA support to landless/marginal women.

Planetary Health Check 2026, released by the Planetary Boundaries Science Lab at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany, warns of rising security risks from human pressure on the 9 planetary-boundary processes regulating Earth’s stability and resilience. It finds 7 of 9 boundaries beyond safe limits with worsening trends: climate change, biosphere integrity, biogeochemical flows, novel entities, land-system change, freshwater change, ocean acidification. The other two are stratospheric ozone depletion and atmospheric aerosol loading.

World Rhino Day highlights key facts on rhino conservation. Rhinos comprise five species: African (White, Black) and Asian (Indian, Sumatran, Javan). Only Indian and Javan are single-horned; Indian (greater one-horned) is the largest Asian rhino. Assam holds nearly 80% of global rhinos. IUCN: CR—Sumatran, Javan, Black; VU—Indian; NT—White (largest). African rhinos are less armoured, more aggressive, and poorer swimmers than Asian rhinos.

Researchers demonstrated a low-temperature (<200°C) process converting polyethylene into gasoline- and diesel-range liquid hydrocarbons with ~60% yield, using commercially available inorganic molten salts containing aluminum chloride. It needs no external hydrogen, noble-metal catalysts, or organic solvents. Soft X-ray spectroscopy and NMR indicate hyper-acidic Al sites generating carbocations to cleave chains. Conventional pyrolysis needs 450-500°C and Pt/Pd or H2. Scaling requires corrosion-resistant confinement and salt recovery/reuse.

Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology found a broken West Asian torpedo jar fragment off Poompuhar (Kaveripoompattinam), with submerged structures, four intact terracotta ring wells (60-65 cm), and 250+ ceramics. Survey used side-scan sonar, sub-bottom profilers, multibeam scanners and ROVs amid low visibility. The jar (Parthian/Sasanian/early Islamic Persian Gulf) evidences Early Historic Indian Ocean trade; Poompuhar was Sangam-era Early Chola port, cited in Pattinappaalai, Silappadikaram, Manimekalai, Ptolemy and Periplus.

WMO’s State of Global Water Resources 2025 reports 42% of global land with below-normal water storage in 2025, declining since 2014-16. All major glaciated regions lost ice; 2025 loss ~408 Gt (~1.1 mm sea-level rise). Rivers: normal flows in only 36% basin area. Nearly two-thirds of wells were outside norms; 34% stations below-normal (25% in 2024). India: below-normal terrestrial storage (north), above-normal reservoir inflows/soil moisture, higher Ganga-Godavari-Krishna-Indus discharge, but persistent groundwater deficits (2022-25), especially northwest.